Volume One, Chapter 57: When He Kissed Her, There Was Nothing Gentlemanly About Him...

That night, Liang Jinmo bought a new forehead thermometer. Xu Zhi had already fallen asleep.

He sat by her bedside, checking her temperature every fifteen minutes. From 38.2 degrees down to a normal 36-something, only then did his nerves finally relax.

He had always felt Xu Zhi was rather delicate. That winter, when they both jumped into the icy lake, he had walked away unscathed, while she suffered a severe cold for a long time.

Now, she seemed intent on keeping her distance; even if she felt unwell, she probably wouldn’t tell him. He had chosen to sleep in the living room just in case—he hadn’t expected her to really come down with a cold.

The room was quiet in the dead of night. Liang Jinmo sat at the edge of the bed, listening to another person’s breathing in the stillness. It was a peculiar sensation.

He had always been alone. He had thought he would spend his whole life that way.

Xu Zhi was an accident. As neighbors, he’d known of her for a long time, but the first time she truly made an impression was when she tore up his exam paper.

At the time, he’d thought, appearances are deceiving. Who would have thought that this seemingly gentle, soft-spoken girl would stand by Liang Muzhi’s side and aid his mischief?

He reached out and gently brushed aside the damp strands sticking to her cheek, tucking them behind her ear. Suddenly, he realized that some hardships truly do have their purpose—

That torn-up exam paper had been the beginning for the two of them.

The next day.

Xu Zhi opened her eyes at dawn, yawning as she rolled over. Her blurry gaze settled on the wooden chair by the window.

A man was sitting there.

Her mind worked slowly; after half a minute, her eyes flew open and she sat up abruptly.

The faint sound woke Liang Jinmo.

He had spent the latter half of the night on that chair, propped up on one hand, dozing lightly and fitfully. Seeing Xu Zhi awake, he immediately straightened and asked, “Does your head still hurt?”

Xu Zhi pressed her forehead. She had sat up too quickly and felt a wave of dizziness.

Liang Jinmo rose at once and came over. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

His voice was taut. Xu Zhi looked up and met his gaze. “I—I’m fine. Why are you here?”

She had just seen him sleeping on the chair. That posture couldn’t have been comfortable; he probably hadn’t slept well.

“I was worried your fever would come back,” he explained simply, picking up the thermometer to check her temperature.

Her body temperature was normal. He relaxed a little and straightened up. “I’ve asked the hotel to bring breakfast. What would you like to eat?”

“Anything is fine.”

The dizziness faded, but a peculiar feeling lingered in Xu Zhi’s heart.

She didn’t know when he had gone out in the night to buy the thermometer, nor how long he had sat by her side. In her memory, this was the first time anyone had stayed so close to her when she was sick, refusing to leave.

Xu Heping was out of the question. Zhao Nianqiao, though concerned, usually found her troublesome and wouldn’t keep her company. As for Young Master Liang Muzhi, he was completely useless at caring for others—he would only stop by to take a look.

After washing up, Xu Zhi sat at the dining table, her mind gradually turning to more practical concerns.

Liang Jinmo ate across from her. Breakfast was sandwiches and milk. She suspected he must have been taught table manners—every gesture, even holding a sandwich, was graceful and unhurried, the epitome of a gentleman.

But then, she suddenly recalled that when he kissed her, there was nothing gentlemanly about it at all...

Liang Jinmo looked up abruptly, their eyes meeting. He said, “If you keep staring, I’ll have to start charging.”

Xu Zhi’s face grew hot and she quickly lowered her head to eat.

After a while, she suddenly remembered something. “By the way... I offended Liang Muzhi again last night. He seems to have misunderstood something...”

She didn’t know how to explain. “I don’t know why, but he’s convinced that the tension between us is your fault, that I’ve been influenced by you. He won’t listen no matter how I try to explain.”

Liang Jinmo replied with a nonchalant “Mm.”

Xu Zhi asked, “...Aren’t you worried?”

Liang Jinmo: “Worried about what?”

“He said...” Xu Zhi tried to recall Liang Muzhi’s exact words, “that you shouldn’t celebrate too soon, he’s coming to settle accounts with you.”

Speaking of this made her exasperated. “He’s completely unreasonable. I don’t know how to explain it to him anymore. I’m afraid... I might drag you into this...”

Last night her mind had been in chaos, mostly focused on herself. Only now did she think to bring it up to him, feeling a bit guilty.

She knew better than anyone the difficulties Liang Jinmo had faced. Now that he was finally doing well at the company, if Liang Muzhi insisted on causing trouble, things could get complicated.

Liang Jinmo set down his coffee cup and looked at her. “Your immune system is too weak. Your cold hasn’t cleared up yet. The most important thing right now is to get better and recover as soon as possible.”

Xu Zhi felt the conversation had taken a strange turn. “I’m talking about Liang Muzhi.”

“I know. That’s why I want you to take care of yourself.” He gazed at her intently. “If Liang Muzhi really wants to make trouble for me, then taking good care of yourself is the best way you can help me.”

Xu Zhi paused, finally untangling his meaning.

So, he was saying her poor health would distract him?

Just then, Liang Jinmo’s phone rang in the living room.

He got up to answer it. Xu Zhi caught a few words.

“No, I have something today... I’ll help remotely from my computer, I can finish it today. I’ll send you the report this afternoon... Okay, I understand. Have your secretary send it to me.”

When he returned, Xu Zhi asked, “Is there a problem at work?”

It was still a weekday; she figured he’d have to go in.

“Nothing serious,” he said after a moment. “My dad isn’t going into the office today, so I have to handle some of his work with his secretary. I told him I could assist remotely.”

Xu Zhi was a little taken aback—it was easy to forget that Liang Zhengguo was also Liang Jinmo’s father.

“Uncle Liang has something to do today?”

He nodded. “Grandfather is ill. He was rushed to the ER last night—apparently, he had a stroke.”

Xu Zhi was stunned, her voice rising involuntarily. “Grandpa Liang had a stroke?!”

Liang Jinmo replied, “Yes.”

He was perfectly calm, while Xu Zhi’s worry was plain in her eyes. “How is he now?”

“I didn’t ask.”

His relationship with the rest of the Liang family was strained, including the old man. Even now, hearing the news didn’t stir any real feeling.

Xu Zhi was different. She’d grown up watching Grandpa Liang and her own grandfather playing chess together. Grandpa Liang had doted on her even more than her real grandfather did. After her own grandfather passed, he was the elder she was closest to.

Although his recent words had stung, hearing he was in trouble still made her anxious.

After breakfast, they cleaned up. Xu Zhi remained uneasy.

She swallowed the cold medicine Liang Jinmo had bought for her, then paced the living room.

When she saw Liang Jinmo about to go work in the study, she couldn’t resist approaching him.

“Um...” She hesitated before speaking. “Grandpa Liang is, after all, your real grandfather. He may not have treated you all that well, but he wasn’t terrible either, was he?”

Liang Jinmo said nothing, leaning against the study doorframe, watching her quietly.

“He’s getting old, and he’s had high blood pressure before. A stroke is very dangerous...” Xu Zhi’s voice grew quieter, her conscience pricking her. “You should at least show some concern, right?”

Still, Liang Jinmo said nothing.

She lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers. “If my own grandfather were still alive... he would definitely go visit. They were very close...”

At this, Liang Jinmo gave a short, amused laugh. “Am I your grandfather now?”

Seeing he wasn’t moved, Xu Zhi gave up, disheartened. “Fine, I just want to know how Grandpa Liang’s doing. Can you call and ask?”

Liang Jinmo was blunt. “I don’t want to.”

Xu Zhi slumped. She didn’t even have her own phone now. If she wanted news of the old man, she’d have to go home, and she wasn’t ready for that.

Liang Jinmo watched her closely. After a moment, he said, “But it’s not like I can’t make that call.”

Xu Zhi looked up, hope flickering in her eyes.

“I have a condition,” he said.

“What condition?”

Her eyes were bright and innocent.

Liang Jinmo’s heart stirred. “A kiss.”

Xu Zhi’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t heard him clearly.

He added another requirement. “You have to be the one to initiate it.”